By KEILA SZPALLER of the Missoulian

Missoula Mayor John Engen is diggable, and that's a compliment.

Engen, unopposed for a second term, has taken care of some business the last four years, but that's not the reason a gaggle of Missoulians think he's the bee's knees.

"He has that comical touch to everything," said Jake Carter, filling in for his mom at Uptown Optical.

Carter, who works at Outback Steakhouse, has helped cater Carousel for Missoula fundraisers, and has heard Engen speak there. He likes the mayor's loose, comfortable manner, and also likes to see the city's top dog mingling outside the office.

"It's good to see your mayor out and about, whether or not he's doing political (work)," Carter said.

In Missoula, being mayor is a full-time job, so there is work to be done. Engen set out to bring new development regulations to Missoula, and that set of rules takes effect Nov. 4. He wanted to get an open space bond passed, and in 2006 voters adopted one worth $10 million, with half the money to be spent in the city.

Still on his mind is making sure people who work in the Garden City can afford homes here, too. In his first term, Engen and his staff produced a video demonstrating the problem. It showed that the cost of a home in Missoula remains far out of reach for employed Missoulians earning decent money.

City communications director Ginny Merriam, who worked on the film, said hundreds of people watched it, from the Missoula City Council to people at the Job Service. Engen, 44, said the message proved valuable, but the problem still needs his attention - and solutions.

"I'm not sure I ever cracked the case about affordable housing, and I'm going to continue to do that," he said. "But boy, we've had an incredible conversation."

Engen, a Missoula native, said he feels a responsibility to help, and the problem is wide. There's homelessness on one end, and also the lack of work force housing.

"When I wake up in the morning, I'm thinking about affordable housing," Engen said.

As mayor, Engen runs a city of some 70,000 citizens, and the former small business owner and Missoulian journalist is leading in lean economic years. The 2010 budget was difficult, and the city likely won't be awash in dough by 2011.

"I'm not sure the news gets a whole lot better for a couple years," he said.

He earlier described the 2010 budget as "the most challenging budget I've presented for City Council's consideration." The budget netted no increase in property taxes and froze the salaries of top managers, including his own, but the mayor sees some silver linings.

"I'm really fortunate," Engen said. "My staff has been terrific finding ways to save money."

His second term brings another enormous undertaking. For years, police have been cramped in their quarters, and the mayor said it's finally time for a fix.

"I need to build a police station," Engen said. "And that's a tall order in this economy, so I have to be really thoughtful about it."

But he also said a new cop shop isn't going to get any less expensive. He wants to understand whether the idea makes sense to the community, and he said he needs to make a pitch for it.

While the witty and genial mayor earns all kinds of brownie points in the community, he's frustrated some members of the Missoula City Council. Some councilors have criticized him for poor communication and a go-it-alone approach.

During the past legislative session, city officials testified in Helena on behalf of a local option sales tax bill. The bill died, and afterward, Councilman Dick Haines said he was disappointed the administration hadn't invited him along. Haines, a former Republican state legislator, said he doesn't hold traditional Republican views of the tax, so he may have been able to convince some former colleagues to see things his way.

Engen said he's tried to be better about providing councilors with information. They are more than just votes to him, he said, and he or his staff talk with ward representatives when there's a project percolating in their district.

"I hope I'm better at providing a narrative of what we're doing, and I've certainly tried to be responsive to that," Engen said.

Back downtown, Alecia Goff is at work at Tsunami, and she's more than happy to talk about Mayor Engen. Her family and his family were neighbors for a decade, and she occasionally runs into him about town.

"He is extremely friendly, extremely outgoing, personable and he seems incredibly selfless," Goff said.

She often sees him in traffic, and Goff said she and the mayor wave to each other when that happens. For her, there's no ifs, ands or buts.

"I like him. I love him. Cool mayor. Dig him."

Reporter Keila Szpaller can be reached at 523-5262, keila.szpaller@missoulian.com or on MissoulaRedTape.com.